Rep. Matt Norris

Maddy summaryHF 3739 names Minnesota's Trunk Highway 610 as the "Hortman Memorial Highway." This bill requires the state transportation commissioner to install signs identifying the highway by its new name, replacing or adding the name to existing route signage. It directly affects travelers on Highway 610 and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, which must implement the signage changes. The bill does not alter highway maintenance, funding, or traffic rules - only the official name displayed on signs. This is a commemorative naming bill with no substantive policy changes beyond signage.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies standards for home and community-based services in Minnesota and requires the state commissioner to issue interpretive guidelines for disability waiver regulations. It directly affects organizations providing care to people with disabilities, their staff, and the families they serve. The law adds flexibility to annual training requirements for direct support staff, allowing a 90-day delay and waiving first aid training if staff already hold current certifications. It also mandates more detailed record-keeping for service recipients, including health information, medication records, and documentation of complaints and incidents. Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner to publish interpretive guidelines within 120 days of any changes to disability waiver policies or related regulations, though these guidelines do not have the force of law.

Maddy summaryHF 3634 expands the list of human services requiring electronic visit verification in Minnesota. It adds three new categories: services provided by "high-risk" providers (based on Medicare criteria), "high-risk" services designated by the commissioner, and any other program or service the commissioner designates. This affects home care and community-based service providers, requiring them to document service details (like time, location, and recipient) electronically through a system compliant with the 21st Century Cures Act. The change broadens verification requirements beyond current personal care, community first services, and home health services.

Maddy summaryHF 400 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Commerce to pay health insurance companies to offset costs when new state-mandated health benefits increase premiums for consumers. This applies to health plans sold in individual, small group, and large group markets. The Commissioner must make these payments within 60 days of receiving a cost statement from the company, using the federal process for cost calculation to ensure accurate measurements. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, for all new mandated health benefit proposals enacted after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 1911 provides $5 million in one-time funding for Minnesota counties to cover costs related to implementing the Department of Human Services' service delivery transformation IT initiatives. It also allocates $40 million for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to improve its social services information systems. The bill funds county IT modernization projects that connect with state systems and encourages collaboration between larger and smaller counties. Counties must apply for grants using a formula based on service population and other factors. This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026, with the DCF funding available until June 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 3293 creates the Minnesota Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (MCFPB) to enforce consumer financial laws and protect residents from unfair or deceptive practices in banking, lending, and other financial services. The bill establishes a commissioner appointed by the governor to oversee the bureau, which will investigate complaints, monitor financial markets, and enforce anti-discrimination rules in consumer finance. It appropriates funding for the bureau’s operations in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and directs the commissioner to recruit staff with federal CFPB experience. The bureau directly affects Minnesota consumers and financial institutions operating in the state by providing a dedicated enforcement agency for consumer financial protection.

Maddy summaryHF 2381 establishes new rules for manufactured home parks in Minnesota. It requires park owners to charge uniform rent (with limited exceptions for lot size/location), caps late fees at 8% of rent, and prohibits fees based on family size, home size, or guests. The bill mandates itemized utility billing, requires safety inspections for hazardous trees within 14 days of notice, and requires 60 days' written notice for rent increases. These changes directly affect park residents and owners by standardizing fees, improving transparency, and enhancing safety protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the official title of "physician assistant" to "physician associate" in Minnesota law for licensed professionals. It clarifies that "physician associate," "physician assistant," and "PA" are synonymous terms, with no change to the scope of practice or rights for these professionals. The bill prohibits discrimination in employment, contracts, or healthcare relationships due to this title change and requires state agencies and documents to update all references to the new title. It directly affects licensed physician associates, healthcare facilities, employers, insurers, and government programs that interact with these professionals.

Maddy summaryHF 3696 adds specific animal cruelty offenses under Minnesota Statute 343 to the state's definition of "crime of violence." This means convictions for these designated animal cruelty crimes will now be classified as violent offenses under existing law. The change directly affects individuals convicted of these specific animal cruelty offenses, impacting how their cases are categorized in criminal records and sentencing guidelines. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 624.712, subdivision 5.

Maddy summaryHF 3808 limits late fees charged by homeowners' associations (HOAs) and other common interest communities in Minnesota. It requires these associations to create written policies outlining how fines are assessed and collected, and to provide clear disclosures about these policies to residents. The bill amends several Minnesota statutes to establish specific caps on late fees and mandate transparent procedures for fee collection. These changes directly affect HOAs and their residents by making fee structures more predictable and preventing excessive charges. The policy focuses on procedural transparency and consumer protection within residential community associations.